Strip oiling apparatus



June 21, 1966 D. c. FLEMING STRIP OILING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April l1, 1962 50 /NvEA/rof?.

DOUGLAS c. FLEM//vs y 9W/@MMV A Harney Air SUPP/y Ex/musi June 21, 1966 D. c. FLEMING STRIP OILING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April ll, 1962 /NVE/VTO?. DOUGLAS C. F/.EM/NG Attorney June 21, 19,66 D. c. FLEMING 3,255,854

STRIP OILING APPARATUS Filed April l1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 01'/ Supp/y Attorney United States Patent O 3,256,854 STRIP OILING APPARATUS Douglas C. Fleming, Hobart, Ind., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 186,738 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-103) The present invention relates to improved apparatus for applying oil to the surface of a continuously moving metallic strip.

In the manufacture of low carbon steel strip it is sometimes necessary to apply a lm of oil to the surface of the finished strip to protect the same from atmospheric corrosion during storage and shipment or to facilitate the handling of the strip during subsequent fabrication; in other instances, dry strip is required and contamination with oil cannot be tolerated. Contamination of the dry type product can be prevented by oiling in equipment separate from the finishing equipment but this in-V volves additional handling, uncoiling and recoiling operations which add considerably to production costs.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an oiling apparatus operable in 'conjunction with a conventional strip coiling device and so arranged that it may be readily brought into contact with the strip when oiled product is required and quickly moved to a position precluding oil contamination when dry product is to be produced.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a schematic plan view showing the general arrangement of apparatus involved in practicing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the oiling unit showing the arrangement of mechanisms for moving the oiling elements into and out of operating position;

FIGURE 4 is a partial front elevation of the oiling unit in retracted position and showing the arrangement of the oiling elements thereof, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the lines V-V of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings, a steel strip, S, is shown passing from a final finishing operation which might be, for example, a temper rolling operation conducted on the mill 1. The strip leaves this apparatus through a conventional tension bridle 2 and is wound on a conventional coiling device 3. The latter includes a motor-driven, over-hung mandrel 4, a power-actuated stripping device 5, and the usual retractable belt-wrapping devi-ce 6 for initiating the winding of the strip on the mandrel 4. The device 5 is designed to remove the coiled strip over the free-end of the mandrel and transfer the coil to a conveyor system, not shown. `The extent of a full coil is indicated by the circle C. The stripping and belt-wrapping devices being of complicated but well known design and forming no part of the present invention, are simply shown schematically by reference boxes.

Anchored to a suitable foundation 7 'between the coiler 3 and its belt-wrapper 6 is a base plate 8 and extending upwardly therefrom are a pair of posts 10. The latter are centered on the longitudinal center line L of the strip approaching the coiler and are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the widest strip to be coiled on the latter; the location and arrangement of the assembly being chosen to allow free access of the beltwrapper to the coiler-mandrel and to avoid interference with the removal of coiled strip from the latter. Fixedly attached near the top of each post 10 is an outwardly extending pintle 12 and, pivotally mounted thereon, a

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substantially L-shaped support arm 14 comprising a forward portion 1-4F and a shorter rearward portion 14R. Portions 14E terminate in connection-plates 16, a header pipe 18 is attached thereto by U-bolts 19 to extend across the ends of arms 14. The header is fitted at intervals along its length with spray nozzles 20. The latter, preferably fan-type nozzles, are disposed to direct overlapping sprays of oil upwardly against the bottom of the strip when the arms 14 are raised into operating position. Oil is supplied through a tiexible connection 22 from the supply line 24; the flow being controlled by a suitable valve 26. A two-way valve is preferable since such will permit oil in header 18 to be drained into the oil reservoir, not shown, thus avoiding oil drippage when the apparatus is not in use. Secured to the inner faces of arms 14, at about the point of attachment of connectionplates 16 are bearings 28 adapted to journal the shafts 29 of a'felt or cloth covered roll 30. During oiling, the latter serves the doublefunction of (l) spacing the spray nozzles at a uniform distance from and out of contact with the strip and (2) spreading the applied oil more uniformly over the under surface thereof. The spreading action is completed by a wiper arrangement indicated in general by the reference numeral 32. The latter, shown in more detail in FIGURES 4 and 5, comprises a main support bar 33, a felt wiper blade 34, a metal back-up strip 35 and a clamping bar 36; the assembly being held together by bolts 37. A support bar 33 is somewhat longer than other elements of this assembly and is provided, at its ends, with brackets 38 carrying outwardly extending pintles 39. The latter are journaled in bearing brackets 40 bolted to the under-faces of the arms 14. Lever arms 41 attached to the bottom of the supportbar 33, adjacent each end thereof, are connected to tension springs 42, the other ends of which are anchored on the arms v14. The springs 42 pull the pivotally mounted assembly 32 into an upright position against the stop pins 43, and, during oiling, serve to maintain the felt wiper blade 34 in positive contact with the strip while permitting the blade to assume the most advantageous angle of contact as the coil of strip increases in diameter.

Under the combined weight of theelements carried by portions 14E, arms 14 assume the retracted position shown by solid lines in FIGURE 2. Movement into operating position, shown by dotted lines, is accomplished by air cylinders 44. The latter are pivotally attached at the lower ends 45 to the base plate 8 and their piston arms 46 are coupled to the ends of arm-portions 14R by pins 47. The cylinders are oriented so that application of air pressure will cause a downward movement of their pistons to raise the forward portions of arms 14 from their retracted-positions along the arc A. To effect simultaneous and uniform movement of the arms, the air for actuating the cylinders is applied through flexible connections 48 from a common header 50 and theadmission and release of air is controlled by a suitable avalve, e.g. the two-way valve 52, shown in closed position, disposed in the air-supply-line 54. Single-acting cylinders have been used by way of illustration, doubleacting cylinders can be substituted to afford faster and more positive return of the arms 14 to retracted position if desired. 'Header 50 is provided with a regulatable pressure relief valve 56 to protect the cylinder-header system and may be provided with a pressure gage, not shown, foi the guidance ofthe operator.

Successful use of the apparatus requires the strip, S, be maintained taut during application of theoil. The normal strip tensions used in conventional coiling operations, as developed by the retarding action of bridle 2, are sufficient. Accordingly, the oiling unit can be moved into operating position at any time after belt-wrapper 5 has initiated the winding of the strip on mandrel 4 by simply opening-valve 52. The latter i's moved to its closed position as soon as roll 33 is broughtinto irm contact with the under-surface of the strip. The air thus trapped in the cylinder-header system maintains the unit in operating position and acts as a pneumatic cushion to dampen-out vibrations; but is compressed as the buildup of strip on mandrel 4 forces roll 30 downwardly along arc A. However, the resulting rise in pressure is limited by the pressure relief valve 56 which can be set by the operator as experience dictates. The amount of oil applied is regulated by adjusting the valve 26. As evident from the description, oil is applied to the bottom-surface only; the top-surface being oiled by transfer from thev bottom as the strip winds on mandrel d. The disclosed v combination of apparatus thus eliminates the need for sprays and wipers servicing the top side. The unit is removed from service and returned to retracted position simply by turning valve 26 to drain and valve 52 to exhaust. Since in retracted position the unit is below the coiler mandrel and to one side of the stripping device, the coil oiled strip can be readily removed and processing of dry product immediately begun.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that minor modications and arrangements can. be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying oil to the surfaces of continuously moving metallic strip comprising in combination a power driven coiler for winding metallic strip into a coil, a tensioning means adapted to restrain the movement of said strip onto said coiler, pivotally mounted support arms adapted to be raised and lowered with respect the under-surface of said strip, spray means disposed on said arms tov deliver oil spray to the undersurface of said strip, a roll mounted on said arms to contact said oil-sprayed under surface to maintain said spray means spaced therefrom, and air actuated means adapted to raise and lower said arms.

2. Apparatus for applyingv oil to the surfaces of continuously moving metallic strip comprising in combination a power driven coiler for winding metallic strip into a coil, a tensioning means adapted to restrain the movement of said strip onto said coiler, pivotally mounted 45 support arms adapted to be raised and lowered with respect the under-surface of said strip, spray means disposed on said arms to deliver oil spray to the under-surface of said strip, a roll mounted on saidl arms to contact said oil-sprayed under surface to maintain said spray means spaced therefrom, wiper means pivotally mounted on said arms, resilient means on said arms urging said wiper means into resilient lcontact with said oil-sprayed under-surface, and air actuated means adapted to raise and lower said arms.

3. Apparatus for applying oil to the surfaces of metallic strip moving from a tensioning device to a power driven coiler for winding the metallic strip into a coil comprising pivotally mounted support arms adapted to be raised and lowered with respect the under-surface of lsaid strip, spray means disposed on said armsV todeliverl oil spray tothe under-surface of said strip, a roll mountedon said arms to contact said oil-sprayed under-surface to maintain said spray means spaced therefrom,` and air actuated means adapted to raise and lower said support arms.

4. Apparatus for applying oil to the surfaces of metallic strip moving from a tensioning device to a` power driven coiler for winding the metallic strip. into a coil comprising pivotally mounted support arms adapted to be raised and loweredv with respect the under-surface of said strip, spray means disposed on saidarms to deliver oil spray to the under-surface of said strip, a roll mounted on said arms t-o contact said oil-sprayed under-surface to maintain said spray means spaced therefrom, wiper means pivotally mounted on said armsyresilient means V on said arms urging said wiper means into resilient. contact with said oil-sprayed under-surface, arid air actuated means adapted to raise and lower said` support means.

Referencesk Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,562 5/1934 Coates 118-103 2,322,784 6/ 1943 Klein.

2,492,539 12/ 1949 Savastone 11S- l2 2,555,021 5/1951 Backus lltj-IS 2,995,469 8/1961 Le Claire 11S-.103 3,015,837 1/1962 Teall 15`-"544 MORRIS KAPLAN, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD NEVIUS, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING OIL TO THE SURFACES OF CONTINUOUSLY MOVING METALLIC STRIP COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A POWER DRIVEN COILER FOR WINDING METALLIC STRIP INTO A COIL, A TENSIONING MEANS ADAPTED TO RESTRAIN THE MOVEMENT OF SAID STRIP ONTO SAID COILER, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SUPPORT ARMS ADAPTED TO BE RAISED AND LOWERED WITH RESPECT THE UNDER-SURFACE OF SAID STRIP, SPRAY MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID ARMS TO DELIVER OIL SPRAY TO THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID STRIP, A ROLL MOUNTED ON SAID ARMS TO 